Enjoying Outside, Inside at Farmers Markets
Woodland Farmers Market
Until the mid to late 1970’s farmers were required to properly label and pack their own products to be shipped and sold in markets anywhere other than their farm site. By participating in Certified Farmers’ Markets, farmers are allowed to direct market their products without being encumbered by packing and labeling regulations. Which means that consumers have access to fresher, local products as well as meeting growers and supporting the family farms in their own communities.
A Certified Farmers’ Market (CFM) is a location that is certified by the Agricultural Commissioner and producers are only allowed to sell their own products directly to the customer. A CFM requires that all farmers and ranchers have a producer’s certificate which is issued by the Agricultural Commissioner. The certificate must be carried by the seller and posted at each stall. The certificate ensures that the producer operates under established rules and regulations and is the buyer’s guarantee that the products were grown or produced in California by that very vendor.
Not all local farmers’ markets are certified but by chatting with the vendor, you can learn more about them and find out where their products are from. It’s a safe bet that most everything is grown and produced nearby and equally as fresh and wonderful as the certified markets. Some of the long-time markets are even registered as 501c3 non-profits and by shopping there you’re contributing to your own community as well as making friends with local farmers. And, as an added benefit, many of them allow dogs!
Farmers’ markets create a great opportunity for both farmers and shoppers by providing high quality, often organic, farm fresh and locally grown products including things like: fruit, honey, nuts, dairy, meat, eggs, plants and flowers, olive and other oils and even homemade treats for people and pets; creating an incredibly diverse community marketplace. The farmers and their families are the people selling their products saving them added marketing and commercial preparation expenses and allowing consumers to learn how and where their goods are produced. You might even score a favorite family recipe or some cultivation secrets for your own garden by chatting with them.
Produce offered at Farmers’ markets was grown nearby so it is naturally sweeter and juicer because it was allowed to ripen on the plant, tree or vine and is picked merely hours before the market opens. Produce sold at grocery stores was picked and packed before it was ready, traveled many miles and hours, and likely ripened on the store shelf, in the back of a truck during its journey or in your own kitchen.
California boasts over 700 Certified Farmers’ Markets and nearly 3,000 producers. Over half of the markets operate year-round offering seasonally fresh products. Those markets that operate seasonally are typically open from April through October.
If you haven’t been to a farmers’ market recently, browse the list and find one nearby. Fill your arms (and tummy) with the loads of farm fresh products and then go home and cook or bake (or both) up a storm. Share with your friends, or take them with you!
Here is a list of all of the CFMs in California.
-Kristie Ehrhardt; kehrhardt@tuleyome.org
Tuleyome Land Conservation Program Manager
RECENT ARTICLES
